Pipe hanger and apparatus and method of making same



Aug-16,1966 r -zf'r. WALTON ETAL 3,265,761

PIPE HANGER AND APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Sept. 18, 1965 United States Patent 3,266,761 PIPE HANGER AND APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Ellsworth T. Walton and Clarence A. Walton, both of 119 th St. SW., New Philadelphia, Ohio Filed Sept. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 309,608 1 Claim. (Cl. 24871) Our invention relates to pipe hangers and more particularly a pipe hanger of the type described in our copending application, Serial No. 203,095, filed June 18, 1962.

Numerous attempts have been made to improve the pipe hanger construction for suspending or anchoring metal pipes and tubes, particularly in connection with the current Wide use of copper pipes. The adverse effects of electrolysis resulting from contact between ferrous metal and copper bearing metals is generally well known. Among the prior art, efforts to improve pipe hanger structures are those efforts wherein a ferrous metal hanger is formed in a U shape with outstanding attaching ears and then dipping or otherwise covering such metal hangers with plastic materials, such as latex, rubber and synthetic rubbers. Other prior art efforts have included the forming of rubber cushions or rubber tapes which are wapped around the pipe to be supported and then employing the usual U-shaped ferrous metal hanger. It appears that such prior art efforts have not succeeded commercially and that prior to our invention, the plumbing trade has used the ferrous metal hangers in contact with the metal pipe or tube which is to be supported.

Recent improvements in the manufacture of copper tubing and fittings therefor have resulted in the wide current use of copper pipe for domestic water system installations. For a number of years plumbers skilled in the installation of domestic water systems have employed a metal pipe hanger unit which comprises a U-shaped wire staple construction with the end portions of the unit being bent at right angles and being sharpened so as to facilitate driving the bent ends into a wooden joist or studding. In certain installations the water pipe has been brought snugly against the edge of the joist and is thus frictionally gripped between the joist and the bight portion of the U- shaped wire staple. In numerous installations expansion and contraction of the pipe in response to temperature changes produces a frictional binding between the pipe and the metal wire staple employed for supporting the pipe. In some instances the pipe is so tightly gripped that it cannot move within the metal hanger so as to accommodate the expansion caused by the increase in temperature in the pipe and axial pressures are developed which break loose the soldered joints to cause leaks in such joints.

It is among the objects of our invention to provide a pipe hanger having electrical insulating properties to prevent electrolysis and at the same time having a split ring construction which will facilitate expansion of the hanger to embrace the pipe and having elastic characteristics so as to return to its original shape and surround the pipe when in use.

It is also among the objects of our invention to provide an integrally formed one-piece pipe hanger of molded or extruded plastic material characterized by a cylindrical bore to receive and hold the pipe and laterally extending ear portions apertured to receive nails or screws for mounting the hanger.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a hanger according to the preceding object wherein the apertures in the ear portions are constructed to frictionally receive and temporarily hold in place screws or nails to facilitate the mounting of the pipe hanger.

3,266,751 Ce Patented August 16, 1966 It is also among the objects of our invention to provide a pipe hanger according to the two preceding objects wherein the ear portions and the exterior of the hanger body are formed so that the hanger is suited for mounting directly against the lower edge of the floor joist or alternatively be suspended beneatth the joist by means of a wire staple hanger.

Further objects and advantages relating to low cost methods and apparatus for making our pipe hanger will appear from the following description and the appended drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a one-piece hanger mounted directly against the under side of a floor joist utilizing the integrally formed ear portions;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the hanger showing the axially extending split-ring faces in abutting position as arranged in use;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the hanger of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the hanger made according to our invention showing the spreading of the split-ring faces away from each other to apply the hanger to the pipe;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a form of our invention adapted for use with a wire staple suspension;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated at 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the form of hanger of FIG. 5 as suspended beneath a floor joist by a wire staple suspension;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional showing of the ear portions of the hanger wherein the fastener receiving apertures are provided with a flash or web to temporarily hold the fastener in place to facilitate mounting of the hanger;

FIG. 9 is an elevation showing the hanger made according to our invention as mounted in a notch formed at the top surface of a floor joist;

Our invention provides a plastic body having a circular bore therethrough, which is proportioned to snugly receive the pipe or tube which is to be supported. The body is provided with a split or cut extending from the interior of the bore outwardly through the body, and the body is provided with a fiat abutting face at each side of the cut, or split, whereby the body may be spread or opened by flexing the same in the area diametrically opposite the cut, or split. Thereafter, due to the resilience or elasticity of the material, the spread portions are 'moved toward each other so as to embrace and surround the tube which is to be supported. After the hanger body is in position surrounding the tube, the faces at the cut, or split, are brought into contact with each other and are secured in this position so as to maintain a slip or sliding fit around the pipe which is to be supported. In the preferred form of our invention, the body includes integrally formed mounting ears Whichhave top surfaces that are co-planar with the flat portions on the body adjacent to the cut, or split.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred form of our invention wherein the pipe hanger indicated in its entirety as at 5 is mounted against the underside of a floor joist 6. The pipe 7 which is to be supported beneath the floor joist is proportioned with respect to the cylindrical bore 8 in the hanger so as to provide a slip fit within the hanger 5. The ability of the pipe 7 to slide, or move, axially within the hanger is due, in part, to the self-lubricating characteristics of the plastic material of which the hanger 5 is formed. It is also due, in part, to maintaining an accurately dimensioned bore 8 by the abutting faces at 9. We have found that pipe hangers shaped like the hanger 5 may be advantageously formed of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene), phenolic and various modifications and com- 'binations of such resins. As will be understood, rubberlike plastic materials are used to facilitate the spreading of the clamp when applied to the pipe. In selecting the resin materials which form the hanger 5 preference is given to those materials which are characterized by high impact resistance and toughness. In this connection, we have found that satisfactory pipe hangers may be made of a resin sold by the Koppers Company of New York, N.Y., known as Koppers 4042.

The hanger 5 has a cut, or split, indicated at 9 which extends vertically, as shown in FIG. 1, from the inside of bore 8 to the exterior flat surface 10. When the hanger is positioned on the pipe 7 and is secured to the joist 6 by means of nails or fasteners 11 and 12, the abutting faces of the split or cut at 9 prevent any further reduction in the diameter of the bore 8. Accordingly, the hanger 5 is initially formed to provide a diameter at bore 8 which provides a snug fit on the pipe 7 but does not interfere with the movement of the pipe 7 within the hanger 5 such as would result from expansion and contraction of the pipe due to temperature changes. It will be understood that the self-lubricating characteristics of the plastic material used prevents the generation of any squeaking, rattling or pounding as the pipe may move within the hanger 5. The ear 13 at the right-hand side of the hanger, and the ear 14 at the left-hand side, are integrally formed with the body portion of the hanger 5.

During the forming of the hanger 5, each of the ear portions 13 and 14 are provided with apertures as at 15 and at 16, respectively, and during the formation of such apertures the interior of each aperture is provided with an integrally formed inwardly extending annular flash as at 18 and 19. It will beunderstood that a thin membrane or diaphragm may be substituted for the annular flash. The flash portions 18 and 19 are useful for temporarily holding the nail 11, or other fastener such as a wood screw, while applying the pipe hanger 5 to the joist 6. It will be understood by referring to FIG. 8 that the nail 11 will be temporarily held in the position shown by the flash 18, and that the plumber using the hanger may hold the pipe 7 and the hanger 5 with his left hand and drive the nail 11 into the joist with a hammer held in his right hand. It will also be understood in this connection that the inherent elastic properties of the plastic material will cause it to contract and hold the hanger 5 on the pipe 7 after the hanger is spread, as shown in FIG. 4, and then permitted to contract about the pipe 7.

In that form of our invention indicated at 20 in FIG. 5, the attaching ears are omitted. The hanger 20 is provided with an exterior groove 21 which is adapted to receive the wire staple form of hanger 25, as illustrated in FIG. 7. It will be understood as this description proceeds, that the form of invention shown in FIG. 5 may be separately molded without the ear portions. The hanger 20 is provided with an axial bore 22, and a split, or cut 23, operating substantially as described in connection with the form of hanger shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 7, the hanger 20 is illustrated as being carried in a U shape wire staple hanger 25 having inturned ends 26 which are driven into the side of the joist 6a. It will be understood that the wire staple hanger 25 may 'be made of ferrous metal and is insulated from the pipe 7a by the hanger 20 so as to prevent electrolysis. It will also be understood that the sides of the hanger 25 cause the cut, or split faces at 23, to be brought into contact with each other and, in

this way, the pipe 7a is securely mounted at a spaced distance beneath the underside of the joist 6a.

The pipe hanger 5 made according to our invention is adapted to be mounted 'within a notch 50 at the upper side of a floor joist 6b, as shown in FIG. 9. The notch 50 includes a widened area indicated at 51 and the ear portions 14 and 13 are anchored in the notch by nails 11a and 12a. In this type of mounting, which is sometimes referred to as the FHA code mounting, a metal cover plate 52 is also secured in the notch 51 by nails 53 and 54. It will be understood that the plate 52 prevents the penetration of floor nails from the floor 55 to the pipe 7b carried within the hanger 5. It will also be understood that the flat surface at the underside of the plate 52 maintains the abutting faces 9 of the hanger 5 in engagement with each other.

Although we have shown and described different forms of our invention in considerable detail, it will -be app-reciated by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as described in the following claim.

What is claimed is:

A pipe hanger comprising a cured elastomeric plastic resin body having an axial 'bore therethrough proportioned to have a slip-fit around a pipe to be supported, said body having an opening extendingfrom the inside of the bore to the exterior of the body throughout .the axial extent of the bore to provide a deformable split ring adapted to surround the pipe with opposed faces at said opening, and integrally formed attaching ears extending laterally from each side of the body, said ears being at one side of said bore and in alignment with said opening to facilitate spreading the opening for application to the pipe and to secure the pipe hanger to a fiat surface with said opposed faces being brought together at the opening in abutment with each other to limit the size of the bore around the pipe.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 470,698 3/1892 Murdock 248-74 1,284,799 11/1918 Sindelar 248- 1,454,058 5/1923 Lowe 18-12 1,529,881 3/1925 Engle 248-71 1,661,069 2/ 1928 Hartung 264-177 2,156,909 5/1939 Boyer 264-177 2,291,148 7/1942 Carson 248-58 2,359,209 9/1944 Ellinwood 248-74 2,423,455 7/ 1947 Larson 248-71 2,570,957 10/1951 Lee 248-71 2,636,703 4/1953' Wallans 248-58 2,723,424 11/1955 Viet 18-12 2,761,347 9/1956 McKee -1 2,918,239 12/1959 Wirth 248-55 2,961,210 11/1960 Pfaff et a1 248-74 3,038,205 6/1962 Plummer 264-177 3,085,129 4/ 1963 Anderson 248-71 X FOREIGN PATENTS 885,582 8/1953 Germany. 907,141 3/ 1954 Germany.

6,035 3/1904 Great Britain.

r CLAUDE A. LE ROY,.Primary Examiner. 

